Proceeds from this day’s sale will benefit Community of Hope, a community health center in Adams Morgan specializing in culturally and linguistically appropriate care for thousands of immigrant, refugee, and low-income patients.

“We drink from wells we did not dig. We warm by fires we did not kindle.”

You get it — be grateful for the things that have come your way that you had nothing to do with.

Can you add lines to this prayer? I have more in my list, but want to extend this motif further. Send me a line in this pattern and this rhythm: approximately eight words, strong verbs, referring to a necessity of life that we mostly enjoy because of the efforts of others.

The Unitarian Universalist tribe has adopted the outstandingly simple and ancient symbol of a flame burning in a chalice. The big Sunday services include an awesome birthday cake-sized vessel, already lit, carried up the center aisle by a certified, card-carrying worship associate, but each task-centered meeting might begin with the lighting of a small chalice too. (The marvelous Hally A. carries a tiny candle holder and matches in her purse for her meeting needs.)

Thus I see the need for small, personal-sized chalices, for sacred moments, whether you are convening a meeting or not, so I have begun a series of small almond-shaped bowls like these here, in various colors. Some have no handles, but the one above has a rough unglazed pedestal foot and loop handles, also unglazed. (That’s my favorite of the tests, so I’ll make more like that.)

I use them by filling the bowl with rice or dried beans, and setting a standard candle atop that — safe, simple, edible.

These photos are not so good; it’s hard to convey a glowing flame in the little pot, and I’m no photographer anyway.